True and it's just as sad for these dogs imo.

Lots of wrongs don't make a right and TBH she ought to know better.

Why defend it----just because she is a show person? I have met agility people in the past who did appalling things to their dogs----no way would I defend it in private or in public.

rune

This is why I hate programs like pedigree dogs exposed! They pick on a really small eccentric minor group of people and make it out that some how this is the norm for pedigree toy brees.

They dont preasent a fair arguement to the point their trying to make and are just stirring trouble for pedigree dog owners who are normal and take their dogs out for walks.

I hope for the little dogs sake it is made up. But I doubt it
The last time I watched crufts I remember a shelti owner on there who had done a little segment on the 'show dogs at home' and she was saying how she dosent exercise her dogs becuase this would tkae some of the goodness in the food away from the coat
For some people it is all about the winning
Exactly, this is something that really I cant get my head around. By defending it then, to me, it looks like the behaviour is being condoned
Plenty people still look at crufts as the best of the best - so reading that would think that is how dogs should be treated
Whenever I see anything in agility I dont like I speak out against it. If someone posted on here about an interview from the agility winner that showed the dogs were being treated in ways I dont like I woulnd defend it
I have reported agility people in the past and will continue to do so

But this wasnt PDE - this was a newspaper interview of the owner

It's from the Daily Mail - the newspaper that if it told you it was Tuesday you'd have to double check before believing them.

I'll reserve judgement for now.

Amen to that, I know plenty of pet owners who never walk their dogs and I bet there are just as many, if not more, who aren't groomed properly, fed properly etc. This isn't a showing problem, it's a bad dog ownership problem.

I agree with this too, I wouldn't be surprised if that article has been twisted/edited to sound worse than it is.

Both excellent points. As I was reading the article on the other side and all the comments with it, I couldn't help but shout at my laptop - what about all the pets that aren't walked?. Elizabeth is obviously a happy well adjusted dog who was totally unfazed by all the noise, lights etc. in the big ring. She is in peak condition and well loved. Yes, so she doesn't get to do all the stuff that some of our dogs do - but does she know? Is she neglected? No, of course not. Just because her life is different, doesn't mean it is bad.

I would as a pet owner be condemned if I didn't walk my dog, quite rightly. It makes no difference to me in either direction whether the dog is pet, show, whatever. Dogs (yes, even the frou frou ones) need proper daily exercise and mental stimulation. Keeping an extravagant coat neat and clean in order to win trophies isn't a valid excuse to not provide this.

I pity the poor thing and any other show dog who lives this kind of existence, as that is all it is, it isn't a life.

Every dog should be allowed to have proper walks, not only is it essential mental and physical stimulus for them, but it gives them the opportunity to socialize and have fun.

I feel really sorry for that dog - and I have to question the ethics and morals of someone who keeps a dog that way. To me they are not dog lovers and are only in it for the money/kudos of winning.

Neither is the bone idleness of some pet owners, but I'm willing to get it goes on a Hell of a lot. It certainly doesn't excuse it, my point is under exercising your dog (for whatever reason) is wrong, but it's not about showing rather poor ownership altogether.